Police are still looking for more suspects
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 19, 2015 1:46 PM
The two arrests made by the Goldsboro Police Department in the now week-old murder of Abdullah Ali Whitaker, 32, do not close the case, officials said this morning.
Information from the community and from the Crime Stoppers tip lines were instrumental in the preliminary arrests, but investigators still need more information, Maj. Anthony Carmon said.
"Those arrests do not clear the case," he said.
Whitaker, a local funeral director with no criminal history, was shot and killed in his car on West Spruce Street just after midnight Oct. 13.
No motive has been released in the killing.
The two teens arrested in the case, Corey Devon Sutton, 17, 416 Charles St., and Terrance Lavon Forbes, 18, 302 Olivia Lane, are both charged with an open count of murder and are being held in the Wayne County Detention Center without bond.
Officials would not say whether a weapon had been recovered in the case and said they were "not at liberty to discuss" a potential motive.
Although both Sutton and Forbes sport tattoos that signify gang affiliation -- investigators confirm both suspects are believed to be gang members, but neither has been validated by official means -- the crime does not appear to be gang-related, Carmon said.
"That has nothing to do with the crime as we piece it together," he said.
Whitaker himself was a businessman with no ties to gang or street activity, according to what has been learned throughout the course of the investigation.
"And this does not appear to be the initiation sort of thing," Carmon added.
He said it is too early to say whether more arrests are pending, but the investigation continues to be worked actively.
Investigators continue to ask that anyone with information regarding the killing come forward.
Tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or text tips to 919-222-4230. Callers may remain anonymous and information leading to a felony arrest is eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.